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La Liga: Elche coach Fran Escriba hails miracle survival

Elche's coach Fran Escriba
Image: Fran Escriba: Full of praise for his players

Elche coach Fran Escriba believes his team have pulled off a "miracle" in defending their La Liga status, considering the club's financial troubles this season.

The club based in the Alicante province won 2-1 at Malaga on Sunday, their fourth win in their last five league games, to clinch La Liga survival with three games to spare.

"It felt like the film Groundhog Day, constant suffering until the end of the game," Escriba said to Spanish sports newspaper Marca. "I am really satisfied with the work done by my team.

"The key to our success has been the group. The ones responsible for this miracle are the players, they deserve it."

Elche's players and staff have not been paid wages in the last three months and recently held a demonstration outside their Martinez Valero stadium to show their discontent.

The club last week appointed Valencia businessman Juan Anguix as their new president to replace Jose Sepulcre, who resigned last month.

Anguix's main task is to oversee changes to make the club financially viable.

"The club needs to be cleaned up," Escriba said. "There are a lot of people that have had a tough time because of the club's poor financial situation and we need to be wary because this miracle will not be repeated in the next few years."

Elche are in their second season in the Spanish top flight and are 13th in the standings.

Escriba's side returns to La Liga action on Sunday to play at Villarreal.

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